Hoffman Building (Morristown, New Jersey)
| Hoffman Building | |
|---|---|
 The Hoffman Building in 1897, containing two ground-level stores: Adams & Fairchild grocers on the left, and P. H. Hoffman & Son clothiers on the right | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Morristown, New Jersey |
| Address | 20 North Park Place |
| Completed | c. 1890s |
| Demolished | c. 1960s |
| Owner | Philip H. Hoffman |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | John T. Allen |
The Hoffman Building, also known as The Arnold,[1] was a Morristown, New Jersey structure completed before 1896.[2][3]
Located across the street from the Morristown Green, the three-story building housed retail and rental properties,[4][3] most notably Adams & Fairchild grocers and P. H. Hoffman & Son clothiers. It was commissioned by Philip H. Hoffman,[4][3] and its carpenter was John T. Allen.[3]
The inscription above the entrance hall read "The Arnold,"[2][1] in homage to the Arnold's Tavern, the historic building moved to accommodate it.
It was demolished some time before the 1960s to make room for the Reynolds & Co building,[5] in which a Charles Schwab location now stands.[6]
Architecture[edit]
The three-story building appeared to have two Dutch neck gables on either side, creating a symmetrical exterior that may recall the Western-style false front and Mission Revival architecture. The second floor's windows have arched pediments.
History[edit]
19th century[edit]
In 1849, Philip H. Hoffman established men's clothing store and tailoring shop P. H. Hoffman & Son.[2]
By 1882,[7] the Clothiers operated out of the historic Arnold's Tavern which also housed Adams & Fairchild Groceries[8][9] and the jewelry store of F. J. Crowell[7] as well as apartments. Circa 1882, Philip H. Hoffman owned the building,[7] along with Hampton O. Marsh.[4] In the spring of 1886, after Marsh's death, Hoffman "decided to remove the old building, and [erect] in its stead [the] Hoffman Building."[4][3]
The Tavern's demolition was prevented by Morristown historian and lecturer Julia Keese Colles.[10][11] To preserve the building, Colles arranged to move the building from the Morristown Green to her estate on Mount Kemble Avenue.[11]
Some time before 1896, the building was completed. That year, former tenants Adams & Fairchild Grocers moved in and advertised their relocation back to 20 North Park Place.[3] In 1899, D. Kantor photographed the Hoffman Building.[12]
20th century[edit]
As of 1904, the building was residential; a groom's family celebrated his wedding breakfast at his Hoffman Building home.[13] That year, Sidney A. Baldwin, organist and musical director of the Morristown Church of the Redeemer, had her studio where she taught pianoforte in the Hoffman Building.[14] Circa October 1910, Morristown resident Arthur Day had his bike stolen from the hall of the Hoffman Building.[15] The Hoffman Building was still standing by 1923, when it housed Morristown Typewriter Service, a typewriter business by M. J. Conroy.[16]
By the 1960s, the building and its two neighboring buildings on the left had been demolished; the source provides a photograph of the street for view.[5] The Hoffman building and its two neighboring structures to the left became the site of the minimalist brick Reynolds & Co building, which circa 1960 housed the Jodo Gift Shop, S. S. Kresge Company, and Rogers Clothing.[5]
By 2022, the Reynolds & Co building had become a Charles Schwab location.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "CONTENTdm". jfpl.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ a b c VOGT BROS., COMPLETE Morris County New Jersey, DIRECTORY for 1897-1898 . Page 3 local Morristown advertisement of "A. L. Revere" that matches time period. 1898, published by Vogt. Bros.
- ^ a b c d e f VOGT BROS., COMPLETE Morris County New Jersey, DIRECTORY for 1897-1898 . Page 12 local Morristown advertisement. 1898, published by Vogt. Bros.
- ^ a b c d "Philip H. Hoffman". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ a b c Nadzeika, Bonnie-Lynn (2012). Morristown. Arcadia Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7385-9280-0.
- ^ a b "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ a b c Halsey, Edmund Drake; Aikman, Robert; Axtell, Samuel Beach; Brewster, James F.; Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith); Howell, Monroe; Kanouse, John L.; Megie, Burtis C.; Neighbour, James H. (1882). History of Morris County, New Jersey. Cornell University Library. New York : W.W. Munsell & co. p. 115.
- ^ "Morristown, New Jersey Revolutionary War Sites | Morristown Historic Sites". www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ Coughlin, Kevin. "From Kentucky to Morristown, for an historic concert | Morristown Green". Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ All Soul's Hospital, North Jersey History and Genealogy Center. Accessed July 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall. "Social media post about All Souls' Hospital by Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ Saretzky, Gary. "List of Historic NJ Photographers".
- ^ "Fall Weddings: Gannon - McNamara" (PDF). Morris County Chronicle. November 29, 1904.
- ^ The Church Music Review and Official Bulletin of the American Guild of Organists. Novello, Ewer. 1904. p. 508.
- ^ Day, Arthur (October 18, 1910). "Local Happenings" (PDF). Morris County Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "Morristown Topics" (PDF). April 13, 1923.